Illegally Yours
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film industry |
| Founded | 1988 |
| Founder | Peter Bogdanovich (director) |
| Products | Comedy film |
| Parent | De Laurentiis Entertainment Group, United Artists |
Illegally Yours is a 1988 American comedy film directed by Peter Bogdanovich, featuring Rob Lowe in the role of Richard Dice, a college dropout who returns home with the intention of turning his life around. Set against the backdrop of St. Augustine, Florida, the storyline revolves around a series of humorous complications involving a blackmailer, a dead body, and a compromising audiotape. The film’s theme song was performed by Johnny Cash.
The movie was both a critical and financial disappointment, earning just $259,019 against its $13 million production budget. Bogdanovich himself later admitted that it ranked among his poorest directorial projects.
Production
Following delays with his intended project Saturday, Sunday, Monday, which was to star Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni, Bogdanovich took on directing Illegally Yours largely for financial reasons, having filed for bankruptcy in 1985.
At that time, Rob Lowe’s popularity was on the rise after About Last Night. He admired Bogdanovich’s earlier films and hoped this project would similarly advance his career as What's Up Doc? had done for Ryan O'Neal. Bogdanovich encouraged Lowe to wear glasses to mirror his actual appearance and drew inspiration from classic screwball comedies such as The Awful Truth and Bringing Up Baby to shape the film’s comedic style.
Although Lowe desired a more notable co-star, Bogdanovich insisted on casting Colleen Camp, a frequent collaborator. The director also extensively revised the screenplay, introducing a new character portrayed by L.B. Straten (Louise Stratten), who would later marry Bogdanovich. While Lowe supported these script changes out of loyalty to the director, he later believed Bogdanovich pursued an ill-conceived vision that contributed to the film’s failure.
Shooting
Principal photography occurred from January through April 1987 in northern Florida, where persistent weather issues posed challenges. Bogdanovich remarked on the mounting pressure to meet a summer release date, which became increasingly difficult to achieve. Additionally, tensions among the crew emerged during filming.
Reception
Initially scheduled for release on July 31, 1987, the film’s premiere was postponed until May 1988 following a test screening where half of the audience exited early. Associate producer Peggy Robertson acknowledged that at that stage the film was incomplete, noting Bogdanovich’s focus on quality rather than speed. A representative from De Laurentiis Entertainment Group (DEG) explained that favorable reactions from their target demographic—women aged 18 to 25—motivated the delay.
Financial difficulties within DEG led to further postponements affecting several projects. Despite these setbacks involving creditors and distributors, Bogdanovich remained optimistic about the eventual release of the film.
Although efforts were made to promote its comedic aspects, the movie failed to find success either critically or commercially. Bogdanovich expressed regret that producer Dino De Laurentiis heavily re-edited the film and later described it as "awful." On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 0% rating based on five reviews.
Variety dismissed it as "an embarrassingly unfunny attempt at screwball comedy," representing a low point for both Bogdanovich and lead actor Rob Lowe. Filmink labeled the movie "a mess," criticizing its confusing narrative and weak performances—common traits among several of Bogdanovich’s unsuccessful films.
Bibliography
- Rob Lowe, Stories I Only Shared with My Agent, 2011